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 The Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo
The best-researched, most-authoritative, and one of the most extensive guidebooks ever written about the Maltese Islands, the Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo elicited universal acclaim. At 450 pages long, this guidebook took one year to research and write - and this despite that I already had a head-start as a Maltese national who grew up in Malta. Aside from the main guide section that details all the sights, mainstream and offbeat, and gives a candid dressing-down of the tourist traps, it also has invaluable and detailed essays at the back section that elevate it to the levels of reference material. These include a detailed section on Malta’s history that is more than 30 pages long, and an essay on the development, and the various manifestations, of Maltese architecture throughout Malta’s 7,000-year-old history - you can read the architectural essay by clicking here. This guidebook is no longer in print.
 Malta & Gozo Directions
Part of a new series by the Rough Guides, this guidebook replaces the original Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo. It is slimmer, more colourful, sports flashier graphic design, and has concise accounts - representative of the trend in guidebooks snappier text and more pictures. It’s got a front section of the ‘best of’of many groupings of Maltese sights that is inspiring and fun to use. Instead of covering everything, the guide is selective in that it covers what’s recommended while omitting anything that isn’t worthwhile. It also has a section on practicalities - transport, contacts, sports, cinemas, festivals, and so on - and one thing that stays the same from the previous guide is the length and breath of the listings (restaurants, accommodation, entertainment, and shopping). As a slimmer reincarnation, however, it looses the back-section essays on history, environment, religion, and architecture. On the other hand, it has an unrivaled strength when it comes to the maps: everything that’s mentioned in the guidebook is shown on useful, legible, navigable maps.
 Malta & Gozo Time Out
Another guide catering for the flitting attention of our age - this time by the Time Out Group - this is part of the magazine-format guide series of Time Out. It is even more concise, and snappier than Malta Directions, covering the selection of main sights in short detail. In this case, I was only one of several contributors, and wrote selected parts, including most of the accounts of historical sights and museums and some of the entertainment listings (restaurants especially). It’s a guide series that is more renowned for its listings - listings of restaurants and entertainment options are the most exhaustive of any guidebook on Malta; one problem of this, however, is that once you have covered, say, the top 30 restaurants in Malta you’d move into mundane and mediocre territory, so someone on a short visit might not pick out the grain from the chaff.
Readers Commendations
I have received hundreds of letters and emails of commendations from readers. Below are a few excerpts from a cross-section of the letters:
“Victor Paul Borg’s guidebook rapidly acquired the worthy soubriquet ‘The Book which Never Lies.’ Other guests in the hotel soon clocked that we were finding more interesting places than them – and that we were better informed. Around our breakfast table a hushed group would gather to witness the daily ceremony, as Victor’s wit and straight-ahead descriptions responded to what sayeth the great book which never lies today, o master?” From John S Milne, Essex, England.
“I recently went on holiday to Malta and took me with your excellent guide. I found it very rich with info on all aspects of the island and its food etc. It was very helpful in deciding which places to go to, and the info on sights.” From V Whitehead, Milton Keynes, England.
“We just returned from a three week stay in Malta and Gozo, and couldn’t have done it without your guide. It was a great travelling companion, as its weathered pages would attest to.” From Julie and Mac Barnett.
“Having lived in Malta for about five months, I can vouch for the quality of this book. It definitely beats all the other guides out there.This book includes a thorough section on Maltese history and culture, plus a list of other books if you want to learn more. As for the travel sections, it's replete with useful information, including details about admission costs, opening hours, bus routes, places to stay and eat, how to get there (not always easy), and where to go have fun in the sun. The maps are great, and it's also got a lot of useful information about Gozo and Comino, the beautiful neighboring islands 30 minutes by boat from Malta itself.” From Stephen Jesse Taylor, Kentucky, USA
“This guide to Malta & surrounding islands is full of facts, details, and helpful hints - it’s the guidebook to stick in your pocket when you head out into the street.” From Stephen McHenry, Olney, MD, USA
“I’ve just returned from Malta and wanted to commend your guidebook – it was really informative.” From Nicola Gilbert
“This is easily one of the best guides I have ever read.” From Dr J Bradford Robinson, Landsberg, Germany. 
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